Frank Moran News

Bloomberg Philanthropies has announced the launch of the 2022 Public Art Challenge, which invites mayors of U.S. cities with 30,000 residents or more to apply for up to $1 million in funding to create temporary public art projects that address important civic issues.

Beginning April 10th, Unmuted Participants, an age-diverse and multinational group of multi-hyphenate artists, will premiere 10 new solo shows conceived and developed in the virtual storytelling space with shows available online on-demand throughout the month. The artists dive headfirst into themes of love, sex, relationships, family and upbringing, shifting identities, gender and psychosocial dynamics, and truth in absurdity, using the digital medium in inventive new ways to create a dynamic and uniquely intimate experience. Think puppets, animation, green screen, and delicious voyeurism.

Sacred Fools Theater Company is adding another ongoing show to its jam-packed calendar with The League of Fools, kicking off this Thursday, October 11 at 9:00pm in the Broadwater Black Box Theater. Leave your sensibilities at the door, detach your sense of irony before entering, because it is the sacred mission of The League of Fools to bring you a unique comedy experience twice a month that will leave you gasping for breath and demanding more.

I've seen INTO THE WOODS twice in the last six weeks, and six times in the last seven years (not counting the recent movie adaptation). And while I would love #TCTheater to diversify its choice of shows (there are quite a few duplicates and triplicates this season), I'm not going to complain about this one. Every time I see Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's exceedingly clever fairy tale mash-up that explores what happens after the 'happily ever after,' I love it even more. It's instantly familiar due to the fairy tale characters we grew up with, but then it lures you into a darker story. And it's a versatile piece that works just as well set in the forests of Asia as in a German beer garden. For their production, newish theater company Shoot the Glass Theater has gone with a stripped down, bare bones, unmiked approach that works beautifully. With minimal (but charming) set pieces and simple costumes, they're able to focus on the storytelling and the music, which is what it's all about.

Old Log Theatre's contribution to the summer blockbuster musical is GHOST THE MUSICAL, based on the popular 1990 movie. It premiered on Broadway in 2012 and ran for only a few months, and when I saw the tour the following year I was not impressed. At the time I wrote, 'At its core, GHOST is a small intimate love story, but GHOST THE MUSICAL is a big splashy techno-heavy 'show,' in which the beauty of that story gets lost. The story would be better served with less tricks, a smaller cast, fewer showy songs, and a greater focus on what we really care about - the relationship between Molly and Sam.' I'm thrilled to report that Old Log has done just that. The score, which is quite good, the story, and the relationships between the characters are more the focus of the show, with lower tech effects that serve the story rather than drawing attention away from it. If you're looking for a satisfying summer musical experience, head out to Old Log Theatre, one of the oldest theaters in Minnesota, in lovely Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka.

Carl Perkins, 'the king of rockabilly.' Jerry Lee Lewis, 'rock and roll's first great wild man.' Johnny Cash, 'one of the best-selling musicians of all time.' Elvis Presley, simply 'the king.' In 1956, these four men were in their 20s and at the early stages of their influential and prolific careers. They came together for one night at Sun Records in Memphis for a jam session, which was recorded and released as the 'Million Dollar Quartet.' So of course, this story had to be made into a musical. Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux did just that; the musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET opened on Broadway in 2010. It only ran for a year, but found success on tour and regionally, as such crowd-pleasing jukebox musicals do. Despite a fairly thin book, it's a great show, precisely because we all know and love these songs and these singers. Even if we weren't alive in 1956, these four artists and their music are an integral part of our musical heritage. The Old Log Theatre recently opened a long run of the show with a fantastic cast that's definitely worth the drive out to charming lake town of Excelsior in the Western Metro.

?Old Log Theatre will be rockin' with the untold story of four rock 'n' roll pioneers and how they came together for one magical night, as the smash hit musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET makes its professional theatre debut in the Twin Cities.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) has announced it will be producing the Midwest Premiere of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID. Based on the beloved, best-selling Disney animated feature Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID will make its Main Stage premiere in 2014. The production will enjoy previews from February 28th through March 6th, 2014 with its grand opening taking place Friday, March 7th 2014.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) presents FIDDLER ON THE ROOF on the Main Stage for the first time in 20 years. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF last graced the Main Stage in 1993 to mark Chanhassen's 25th anniversary. This time around, the theatres' most widely requested show will mark CDT's 45th anniversary. The production will run September 27th, 2013 through January 25, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) has announced that FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will return to the Main Stage for the first time in 20 years. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF last graced the Main Stage in 1993 to mark Chanhassen's 25th anniversary. This time around, the theatres' most widely requested show will mark CDT's 45th anniversary. The production will run from tonight, September 27th, 2013 through January 25, 2014.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) has announced that FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will return to the Main Stage for the first time in 20 years. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF last graced the Main Stage in 1993 to mark Chanhassen's 25th anniversary. This time around, the theatres' most widely requested show will mark CDT's 45th anniversary. The production will run from September 27th, 2013 through January 25, 2014. CDT just announced the cast for the production.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres brings its audiences a fresh rendition of a musical classic never before seen on the Main Stage with BYE BYE BIRDIE. It is currently running through March 30, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres brings its audiences a fresh rendition of a musical classic never before seen on the Main Stage with BYE BYE BIRDIE. It is currently running through March 30, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights from the show below.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres brings its audiences a fresh rendition of a musical classic never before seen on the Main Stage with BYE BYE BIRDIE. This all-American musical will light up the stage with preview performances from tonight, October 5 through 18. Official grand opening festivities take place on October 19. The production is slated to run through March 30, 2013.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres brings its audiences a fresh rendition of a musical classic never before seen on the Main Stage with BYE BYE BIRDIE. This all-American musical will light up the stage with preview performances from October 5 through 18. Official grand opening festivities take place on October 19. The production is slated to run through March 30, 2013.

Minnetonka Theatre is celebrating 10 years under the Artistic Direction of Kent Knutson, director of both the theatre's high school and community branches, with a remount of their fan favorite production, All Shook Up! Alumni cast members were invited back to be a part of this Elvis inspired musical, first presented by Minnetonka High School in 2009. Running from tonight, July 20 to August 4 on the Arts Center on 7 Main Stage, it is also a follow up to last winter's sold-out hit, The Sound of Music.

Minnetonka Theatre is celebrating 10 years under the Artistic Direction of Kent Knutson, director of both the theatre's high school and community branches, with a remount of their fan favorite production, All Shook Up! Alumni cast members were invited back to be a part of this Elvis inspired musical, first presented by Minnetonka High School in 2009. Running from July 20 to August 4 on the Arts Center on 7 Main Stage, it is also a follow up to last winter's sold-out hit, The Sound of Music.

Ripper, a new musical about Jack the Ripper, will be presented as a free reading at New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.) on March 19th at 7:30 PM.